TURKIYE ENTOMOLOJI DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF ENTOMOLOGY, cilt.38, sa.1, ss.19-29, 2014 (SCI-Expanded)
The effects of cold storage on the biology of the larval parasitoid Venturia canescens were tested. Storage studies were conducted in two stages, pre-adult and adult stage of the larval parasitoid, Venturia canescens (Gravenhorst) (Hymenoptera: lchneumonidae). Pre-adult stage of parasitoid was stored in last larval stage of the hosts, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Plodia interpunctella Hubner (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) at 5, 10, 15 degrees C for 1, 3, 5, 7, and 15 days. Similarly adult parasitoids were stored the same temperatures for honey feeding and non-feeding condition. Storage temperatures, Storage period and host effects on V. canescens development were evaluated. The parasitoid did not develop at 5 degrees C for 5, 7 and 15 day storage period on both hosts. Similarly parasitoid did not develop at 10 degrees C for 15 day storage period on the host P. interpunctella. Decreasing of temperature and increasing of storage time resulted in increasing in the parasitoid development time, but reducing emergence rate. This reduction of emergence rate was higher in P. interpunctella. Longevity and adult dry mass were less affected by low temperature in both hosts., the most suitable temperature for feeding and non-feeding condition on both hosts was found to be at 10 degrees C for the adult. The results suggest that E. kuehniella could be more suitable host for V. canescens.